Last fall, the Camden County Board of Freeholders sponsored a job fair
to help the thousands of people in our area who are looking for work.
Approximately 1,200 people attended and 80 employers with current job
openings were set up offering information on opportunities all across
the area.

Last fall, the Camden County Board of Freeholders sponsored a job fair to help the thousands of people in our area who are looking for work. Approximately 1,200 people attended and 80 employers with current job openings were set up offering information on opportunities all across the area.

With such an overwhelming demand in finding employment, plus the current 9.7 percent unemployment rate in our county, the Board of Freeholders has decided to hold another job fair on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at the Collingswood Grand Ballroom from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

At the event, we will have a hiring bell for people to ring every time they are offered a job, scheduled a second interview, or receive positive feedback. It rang dozens of times throughout the day of the fall job fair, but unfortunately it did not ring for everyone. The difference between those who walked away with a job and those who left empty-handed is in their planning. Even in a good job market, the competition for jobs can be tough. So how can you stand out from the crowd at our career fair? It’s simple…be prepared. The truth is you really need to “work it” at a job fair to get noticed.

Many jobseekers don’t realize the valuable opportunity that career fairs present. Many are not adequately prepared for the event. And, it shows. Your objective when attending job fairs is to introduce yourself to suitable employers. From the moment employers meet you, they are trying to determine if you would be a good match for their organization. The key to impress employers with your preparation at career fairs is to do the basics, and then go several steps further.

You already know to dress neatly and professionally. For those of you who need help in those areas, we will have a booth at the job fair providing proper dress and makeup makeovers. Local stylists will assist in hair, makeup and business-appropriate transformations. We want to make sure you really impress them at your next interview.

But what most impresses the interviewers are those who demonstrate a familiarity with the organization they are interviewing for, have intelligent questions to ask, and take the time to think about how you might fit into the organization. In order to maximize your efforts, research the companies attending and communicate, on your resume and in your spoken sales pitch, how your skills, experience and education fit well with the company’s needs. Our job fair will host almost 100 employers so make sure you visit the employer’s table that matches your job skills.

Each jobseeker must learn to brag without bragging. At a job fair, career-focused self-promotion can lead to an interview or even a job offer. There’s an art to self-promotion: It is about taking ownership for your achievements and learning to articulate them. Make your pitch memorable and keep it short.

Recruiters have been known to complain about the formatting, spelling errors, and grammatical problems with resumes. Get serious about resume-writing. If you need help with this, professional staff will be on-hand at the fair to help maximize your full marketing potential. After all, the reward can be an invitation to a formal interview, and sometimes even an offer on the spot.

The job fair in April will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Collingswood Grand Ballroom, located at 315 White Horse Pike. There is plenty of parking. Remember to dress for success and bring copies of your resume. For more information as the event gets closer, visit www.camdencounty.com.